Bishop to govt: Enforce law on indigenous peoples’ rights

A Catholic bishop is urging the government to implement the law that protects indigenous peoples, saying violations of their rights have continued throughout the country. “We call on the government to implement the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 or Republic Act (RA) 8371, because violations of indigenous people’s rights have continued," said Bishop Sergio Utleg, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Indigenous Peoples Apostolate (ECIP-IPA) of the Catholic Bishops conference of the Philippines (CBCP). “Bishops and priests working in IP apostolates in various dioceses have also expressed support to the call to implement the IPRA, as it guarantees the realization of the right to self-determination of the IPs," he said in a statement. The ECIP-PA conducted its 28th national convention from Sept. 7 to 10, at the Holy Family Retreat House in Lahug, Cebu City, where bishops and priests from various dioceses in the country gathered to discuss indigenous people’s rights. According to Utleg, some laws on the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights have, at one time or another, run in conflict with the government’s policy on mining as embodied in the Mining Act of 1995, or RA 7942. “The government should give utmost importance to the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, when laws trample these rights and entitlements," said Utleg adding, “IPRA must be enforced to shield IPs from abuses and legalistic maneuverings of some mining firms." Earlier, indigenous people’s groups expressed dismay that until now the protection and promotion of IPs’ rights are not within the government’s range of priorities. [See story: Indigenous groups still not a govt priority] In his statement Utleg also stressed that the enforcement of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) should not be compromised as it guarantees the formulation of a genuine process and mechanism for consent determination by the indigenous peoples. The IPRA requires that FPIC be obtained before mining permits are issued. “But, there are reports showing some mining companies fabricate the indigenous peoples’ consent. Several indigenous people’s group claimed they had not been provided with adequate information about the potential environmental and social impacts of mining ventures in their areas," he said. Bishop Utleg also called for reconstitution of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Indigenous Peoples Affair (OPAIPA) which was established in 2001 and pushes for the implementation of all laws that provide for representation of indigenous peoples in government bodies with corresponding budget. – Jerbert Briola/LBG, GMANews.TV